Speakers

Baiba Miltoviča has been appointed in 2020 President of the “Transport, Energy, Infrastructure and Information Society” Section (TEN) of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC). In her previous mandate at the EESC, Ms Miltoviča held a position as Vice-President of the Diversity Europe Group of the European Economic and Social Committee.

Ms Miltoviča is a member of the Consumer Policy Advisory Group established by the European Commission Directorate-General Justice and Consumers.

At the national level Baiba Miltoviča serves as the International and EU Affairs Adviser of the Latvian National Association for Consumer Protection (LPIAA, member of the European Consumer Organization, BEUC) and is Member of the Advisory Board of the Latvian Public Utilities Commission.

Christa Schweng was elected President of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) in October 2020. She has been an EESC member for 22 years, working as rapporteur for several opinions.

She is the outgoing president of the EESC's Section for Employment, Social Affairs and Citizenship and chaired the Labour Market Observatory from 2013 to 2015.

Ms Schweng gained deep expertise in social and employment issues, working as an advisor both at EU level and in her native Austria. Outside the EESC, she works for the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber.

She has been a member of the Advisory Committee on Safety and Health at Work since 1995 and has held every three years the rotating presidency of the Board of the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work since 2001. She chaired the SMEunited Social Affairs Committee between 2001 and 2009.

Christa Schweng holds a master's degree in law from the University of Vienna.

Ilze Indriksone no partijas “Nacionālā apvienība” saraksta ievēlēta 13. Saeimā, strādāja par Ekonomikas ministrijas parlamentāro sekretāri, bija Saeimas Budžeta un finanšu komisijas locekle un Publisko izdevumu un revīzijas komisijas sekretāre. “Nacionālās apvienības” valdes locekle. Četru bērnu mamma, dejo tautas dejas. Latvijas Universitātē ieguvusi maģistra grādu vides pārvaldībā, Latvijas Lauksaimniecības universitātē - vides inženieres kvalifikāciju, vides zinību bakalaura grādu.

Ms Zane Petre has worked in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia, including as European Correspondent in the Political Director's Bureau and as Head of International Operations and Crisis Management Division and Representative in the Civilian Crisis Management Committee through the Permanent Representation of Latvia to the EU, as well as Head of Chancery to Moldova. In 2012, she joined the European External Action Service (EEAS). She was Head of the Political, Press and Information Section in the EU Delegation to Eritrea (2012-2016) and then Deputy Head of Delegation and Head of the Political, Press and Information Section in the EU Delegation to Nepal (2016-2020). In September 2020, she joined the Policy and Reform Coordination Team of the Support Group to Ukraine in the Directorate-General for European Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations (NEAR). As of 16 April 2021, Ms Petre is Head of the European Commission Representation in Latvia.

Mr. Gunars Valdmanis (born 1979) is an executive director of the Latvian Association of Power Engineers and Energy Constructors, researcher in the Riga Technical University, as well as Member of the Industrial committee of the Latvian Chamber of Trade and Commerce, and the member of the Latvian National Committee of the World Energy Council. Previously Mr.Valdmanis worked as the Deputy Director of the Department of Energy Markets and Infrastructure in the Ministry of Economy of Latvia, his earlier professional experience also involves several years in journalistic work, as well as in management work in information service and transport sectors. Mr.Valdmanis has earned a Master’s degree in the Political science in the University of Latvia, as well as Master’s degree in the environmental science and energy in the Riga Technical University and the Vilnius Gediminas Technical University. Currently he continues his studies in the doctoral program in fields of energy and environment in the Riga Technical University.

Sorcha Edwards is General Secretary of Housing of Europe, the European Federation of Public, Cooperative and Social Housing since 2014. Housing Europe brings together public, cooperative and social housing providers from across Europe. They share a vision of a Europe which provides access to decent and affordable housing for all in communities which are socially, economically and environmentally sustainable and where everyone is enabled to reach their full potential. The sector manages 25 million homes and delivers over 200,000 new homes and renovations annually. Sorcha leads the team and coordinates the network for maximum impact aiming at better regulation, better knowledge and better finance for housing in EU and International policy-making. Under her leadership Housing Europe has become a point of reference for sustainable housing systems in Europe and beyond. Sorcha’s academic career which led her to this position covered business and languages at Dublin City University, University of Salamanca & University of Ulster, to a Masters in European studies at the University of Leuven and a post graduate diploma in sustainability in the build environment at the East London University.

Gunta Anca has been an experienced disability rights activist throughout her career. Since 2002, she is the Chair of the Latvian Umbrella Body for Disability Organisations SUSTENTO.

Since 2005, she is a Board member within the European Disability Forum, just now she is elected in the position of vice-president of the organisation. Moreover, Gunta Anca was elected twice as board member of the European Women’s Lobby.

Since 2004, she was a member of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC). During 16 years of work there she represented interests of people with disabilities in the areas of social protection and employment, as well as in accessible transport policy. She holds diplomas in social work and in business administration and management.

Anna Norvele is a board member of Latvian National youth council. Formerly she has been an activist in youth organization "Protests" which advocates for inclusion of disadvantaged groups and holds accessible housing as one of its goals. She cares deeply about the rights and opportunities of young people.

Michaela Kauer, born 1966 in Vienna, has a long work experience with the City of Vienna, where she occupied different posts. Starting in 1992 in the Executive Policy Group on Housing and Urban Renewal, moving on to the Policy Group for Women´s Rights, Integration and Consumer Protection for more than 10 years and 5 years in Health and Social Affairs, she was assigned as director at the Brussels Liaison Office of Vienna in 2009. The office has a leading role in the city´s EU affairs with a strong focus on public services, long-term public investments, EU urban policy, and gender equality, amongst others. Michaela Kauer represents Vienna in the Executive Committee of EUROCITIES and works closely with the Committee of the Regions. She is the joint representative of the Austrian provinces for the EU Urban Agenda and she served as coordinator of the EU Urban Partnership on Affordable Housing from 2015-2021. Her academic background is international public management; she regularly publishes on urban, housing and gender policy and teaches in academia, amongst others at the University of Applied Studies in Burgenland.

Blog: michaelakauer.at

Twitter: @MichaelaKauer

linkedin.com/in/michaela-kauer-54078a40

Esmu Jānis Baiks, Valmieras novada pašvaldības domes priekšsēdētājs. Pirms administratīvi teritoriālās reformas 7 gadus biju Valmieras pilsētas mērs, tāpat man ir 11 gadus ilga pieredze izpilddirektora amatā Valmierā. Mana pieredze pašvaldības darbā ikvienā tās kompetencē esošajā jomā ir izveidojusi manu pārliecību par administratīvi teritoriālās reformas nepieciešamību.  Lai spēcinātu un attīstītu Latvijas reģionus un uzlabotu pašvaldības spējas rast efektīvus risinājumus  izaicinājumiem, piemēram, dzīvesvietu pieejamībai Valmierā un apkārtnē, kas kļuvusi par būtisku attīstību bremzējošu faktoru, investīciju piesaistei,  uzņēmējdarbības attīstībai, iedzīvotāju skaita palielināšanai, iedzīvotāju labklājības celšanai un daudzveidīgu, kvalitatīvu un pieejamu pakalpojumu nodrošināšanai iedzīvotājiem.

Marcin Idczak – senior energy engineer at the Technical Department in the EIB Energy Efficiency and Energy Advisory Division; based in Warsaw office of the EIB; deals with advisory to energy projects supported with EU funds (e.g. power transmission lines, gas pipelines, LNG terminals, DH, RE and EE);

Has been working with the EIB for 12 years including 6 years at the HQ in Luxembourg; previously employed in the private sector company as an energy auditor in Poland; graduate of environmental engineering at Warsaw University of Technology; holds PhD from Warsaw University of Technology and Ecole Centrale de Nantes.

Céline TOUGERON is a project adviser at the European Commission's Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA). She mostly follows projects on energy efficiency finance supported by the Horizon 2020 programme and the LIFE Clean Energy Transition programme. Those projects provide technical assistance to local and regional authorities so they can launch energy investments (Project Development Assistance). She also manage the Sustainable Energy Investment Forums (SEIF) and projects organizing roundtables in EU Member States to strengthen dialogue among national authorities and stakeholders on energy renovation financing related topics, in particular the mobilization of private finance.

She previously worked in the EU Delegation to Ethiopia where she was responsible for energy and transboundary water management portfolio.

Anke is responsible for project management at Energy Cities and is currently coordinating the European City Facility, a project funded by Horizon 2020. She joined Energy Cites in 2022.

Energy Cities is a learning community for cities engaged in future proofing their economies. Energy Cities’ members are diverse cities that have a strong commitment to reach climate neutrality in their territories by 2050.

Anke has extensive experience in EU project and programme management and was supporting various stakeholders to get access to European funding in her previous roles. In her last job at INTERREG North-West Europe, for more than 13 years, she has primarily developed and monitored different EU projects in the energy efficiency and renewable energy sector.    

Anke graduated with a Master’s degree in European spatial planning and a Bachelor’s degree in Regional Science and Spatial Development. She speaks German, English and French. 

Reinis ir biznesa vadības un finanšu profesionālis ar ievērojamu uzņēmumu vadības pieredzi. Ieguvis maģistra grādu starptautiskajās finansēs, biznesa vadībā Šveices Biznesa skolā, kā arī ar izcilību apguvis juridiskās zinātnes Rīgas Juridiskajā augstskolā.

ALTUM komandai Reinis pievienojās 2015. gadā. Pirms tam ieņēmis vadošus amatus Patentu valdē, Lattelecom, Latvijas Garantiju Aģentūrā.

Edmunds Valantis - Ekonomikas ministrijas valsts sekretāra pienākumus pilda kopš 2020.gada 3.jūnija. 

Kopš 2016. gada Ekonomikas ministrijas valsts sekretāra vietnieka būvniecības un mājokļu jomā amatā uzsācis ievērojamu mājokļu un būvniecības vides pārveidi Latvijā - īres regulējuma  pilnveidi risku mazināšanai un ātrākai strīdu risināšanai, atbalsta modeļu pilnveidi un izstrādi mājokļu pieejamības veicināšanai, uzsācis Padomju laikā veidotā mājokļu fonda tehniskā stāvokļa izvērtēšanu, ēnu ekonomikas mazināšanu būvniecībā, t.sk. elektroniska darba laika ieviešanu būvobjektos un ģenerālvienošanās ieviešanu minimālā atalgojuma celšanai būvniecībā, kā arī ieviesis elektronisku būvniecības procesu Latvijā.

No 2007. gada vadījis Ekonomikas ministrijas Eiropas Savienības fondu ieviešanas departamentu, būdams tieši atbildīgs par Eiropas Savienības fondu programmu izstrādi un ieviešanu saistībā ar uzņēmējdarbības veicināšanu un energoefektivitāti.

Ekonomists, 2002. gadā ar izcilību pabeidzis Antverpenes universitātes Transporta un Jūrlietu vadības institūtu Beļģijā, kur ieguva maģistra grādu.

Marcos Ros Sempere has been a Spanish Member of the European Parliament for the Socialists and Democrats Group (S&D) since February 2020. He is the shadow rapporteur for the EPBD on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) committee which is responsible for giving its opinion to the leading committee (ITRE). He is also a member of Industry, Research & Energy (ITRE), Culture and Education (CULT) and Regional Development (REGI) committees. On the CULT committee, he is the co-rapporteur for the own-initiative report on the New European Bauhaus which brings together interdisciplinary solutions including the decarbonisation of buildings for integrating the green transition into the lives of EU citizens. Prior to the European Parliament, Mr Ros Sempere spent eleven years as a Professor of Urban Planning at the School of Architecture of Cartagena. He has a PhD in architecture, specialise in urban planning issues and a long experience in the rehabilitation of the architectural heritage.

André Viola, né le 24 mars 1971 à Carcassonne, en France. Docteur en droit public, il est maître de conférences en droit public à l'université Toulouse-I-Capitole. Militant socialiste depuis 1991, d'abord au Mouvement des jeunes socialistes puis au Parti socialiste, il a été secrétaire national chargé de la coopération décentralisée et des relations internationales à la Fédération nationale des élus socialistes et républicains. Intéressé par les problématiques liées aux relations internationales et à la coopération décentralisée, et dans ce cadre plus particulièrement aux questions relatives à l’objectif du développement durable n°6 d’un accès à l’eau pour tous, il a exercé la fonction de président de l'Arc Latin, réseau de collectivités du pourtour méditerranéen en France, Italie et Espagne, de 2011 à 2014. Il fut président du conseil départemental de l'Aude de 2011 à 2020.  Européen convaincu, il est conseiller départemental délégué de l'Aude à l'Europe et il est membre du Comité européen des régions et préside la CEPLI (le réseau européen représentant les pouvoirs locaux intermédiaires.

Gaspard Demur is Team Leader for National Renovation Strategies and Recovery at the European Commission, Directorate for Energy (DG ENER). He is ensuring the mainstreaming of energy efficient renovation of buildings into the post-Covid recovery plans that EU Member States are developing in cooperation with the European Commission. He previously worked as an Assistant to the Director General of DG ENER, following closely the Governance of the Energy Union as well as nuclear and international files.

Peter Sweatman has spent 30 years in finance of which 18 are climate finance and energy efficiency. He is the Chief Executive of Climate Strategy & Partners (@ClimateSt and www.climatestrategy.com), a strategic consulting group in Clean Energy, Clean Technology Innovation and Energy Efficiency working with leading companies and policymakers in the global energy transition. Peter is also Chairman and founder of Energy Efficiency Capital Advisors (www.eecapadvisors.com) an expert solution provider and finance structuring partner for over Euro 60 million of finance for energy savings and on-site power in Spanish cities.

Peter has published fifteen white papers and chaired, moderated or spoken at 380 conferences and workshops on the global energy transition to a climate neutral economy. Peter is the rapporteur for EU Commission and UNEP FI’s 500-strong Energy Efficiency Financial Institutions Group (#EEFIG) since 2013 and for five years was the G20’s EEFTG technical lead. He is the co-chair of Breakthrough Energy’s European Climate Innovation Hub, a founder advisor to the Climate Bond Initiative, a founder member of the Ashoka Support Network in Spain, advisor to the Climate Lab, advisor to Braemar Energy Ventures, on the steering committees of EY and CapGemini Invent’s work on green recovery and climate innovation, a board member of Menorca Preservation Fund and visiting lecturer at IIT-Comillas university. Peter chaired and reported on a 250-expert process to help design the EU ETS Innovation fund and published a review of EU finance for competitive innovation for net-zero emissions by 2050.

Peter holds an MA Cantab degree in Engineering and Management Studies from Cambridge University. In 1991, he joined JPMorgan in Corporate Finance where he spent 9 years responsible for client business, mainly in debt capital markets, for Spain, Portugal, Austria and Switzerland based in London and then for Mexico and other Latin American countries from New York. In the year 2000, Peter became a social entrepreneur to found three successful and high impact NGOs: Charity Digital (www.charitydigital.org.uk), New Philanthropy Capital (www.thinknpc.org) and Catalyst Climate Change Trust. From 2005, Peter was a Managing Director in Bunge-Climate Change Capital that was – from 2004-2010 - one of the world’s leading specialist fund managers and advisors in the low carbon economy.

Alejandro Inurrieta is senior financial consultant at Inurrieta Consultoria Integral S.L. He is also chief economist at Lorenzo Davila, EAFI.

From 2008 to 2011, he was council member of Madrid’s local government within the Culture and Infrastructure commissions. From 2004 to 2007, he worked as member of the Cabinet of the State Secretary for Economics of Spain.

Alejandro Inurrieta regularly writes as a columnist for several Spanish newspapers (5 Dias, Expansion, Publico, El Pais, Vozpopuli, Cuarto Poder), and is advisor economist for TV and radio channels (SER, CNN+, TVE).

He also taught labour economics at the University Rey Juan Carlos I and macroeconomics at the Vasco university of state. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics, a masters’ degree in Public finance, Public expenses and Economic planning, a doctorate in Econometrics and a PhD in Economics.